The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food is promoting the Utah Garden Challenge in order to collect information about independent food production for the USDA.

The Utah Garden Challenge is a voluntary contest to register 10,000 gardens. The data mining project has a broad interest in any "resource" who is growing food:

"Whether you grow a tomato in a pot, a row in a community garden, have backyard gardens, a CSA or working fruit and vegetable farm, we want to hear from you because you are an important resource as a food producer."

While the contest paints a proud face on independent food production, it is important to remember that registering with the government sets up a system to track, tax, permit or confiscate the registered item. Gun ownership is a good example of this scheme.

According to a pop-up window on the official website, participants' gardens will be registered with the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS):

"We need to know how much food is being produced in Utah. The Census of Agriculture is done every 5 years. Every agricultural operation in Utah, regardless of size, is vital to this question. If you produce $1000 of agricultural products, you can influence economic development and decision making by filling out a NASS survey. We will only share your information with NASS by your permission. Your response to the census of agriculture is protected by law. For more information, you can go to www.agcensus.gov "

In other words, people who produce $1000 or more worth of food have an impact on the food market, and the USDA wants to know about what you are doing in your backyard.

Victory gardens in America produced up to 40% of all vegetables consumed during World War II, with over 20 millon home gardens and community plots that produced over 9 million tons of food.

The USDA is notorious for its corrupt partnerships and revolving door business relationships with big commercial agriculture.

Government Crackdowns & Food Control

Food is under attack because if you can grow your own food, have access to water and shelter, then what use do you have for a government master?

The federal government has profoundly overstepped its constitutional authority on all fronts, and there are a number of examples of the USDA's outrageous control over food that include SWAT team raids on raw milk sellers and fruit tree confiscation.

The Food Safety Modernization Act expanded the power of the FDA and its sister agency, the USDA. The law is bad for many reasons and is an overwhelming burden on small and independent farmers due to over-regulation and increase in paperwork and reporting.

Additionally, the FBI identifies people who store food as potential terrorists!

Why Is Utah a Threat?

1. A few months ago Utah voted down a Food Freedom Bill that would have made it a crime for anyone, including Utah state agents, to enforce the Food Safety Modernization Act's unconstitutional mandates. It would have made farmers who trade only inside of state lines exempt. The bill was a direct constitutional challenge to federal overreach.

2. Highland City, Utah passed a Food Freedom ordinance that exempts residents from federal regulations on food that is produced, exchanged and consumed within city limits (state laws still apply).

3. Utah has the largest concentration of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as Mormons) who have an official policy of food storage, currently set at a 1-year minimum supply. This may be construed as a threat by the FBI, especially since a 1-year supply of food can cost as little as $225.

Conclusion

Survivalist.com points out that the Utah Garden Challenge is linked to the United Nations Agenda 21 Sustainable Development plan for totalitarian control.

The Utah Garden Challenge is enticing Utahans with meager prizes (a 1-in-1000 chance of winning a giftcard or free restaurant dinner) to register their gardens and subject themselves to invasive government data mining. But is your food independence worth it?

nice catch cassandra,anyone silly enough to tell the govt anything..IS a fool indeed!this makes everyone that complies a resource alright. they are the first targets to be confiscated when sotero enforces martial law and all food , animals etc become property of us govt.the latest exec order renewal and update should be a big red flashing light to stock up and shut up.going to be amusing to see the 1 in 1,00 competition entrants get TAX bills for their 1,000 in goods produced.,wether used for themselves or sold at all.

Is the government here for our convenience or is are we here for the government's convience?

This is just wrong! It's frustrating to have our government see us as 'potential terrorist' & keep secret lists on us.

You need to read this book about Americans in a small town who finally stand up to govt. tyranny. It's amazing cause it's about each of us & the regulation of the government....not the government regulating us. I've been recommend it to everyone.

www.booksbyoliver.com

I fear there will be a time when we will be taxed on our gardens & some IRS agent comes knocking on our doors.

Since it would be stupid NOT to have a gardern, then perhaps the 'authorities' should be more realistic about compliance, just drive around and look for those who are stupid enough to not have one - then try TAXING them for that inactivity.

A mushroom, kept in the dark and buried in 'manure' can see through this ploy faster than a 5th grader.

Clearly, the UN Agenda 21 and Sustainable Development programs have been adopted by your local and state governments in Utah. Start Screaming to your governments to throw out the UN Agenda 21 and Sustainable Development and vote out the buggers who have implemented this evil program. Socialism is on the way if you in Utah don't get out of your comfort zone.

It is a voluntary contest-voluntary being the key word here. We, living in Utah, do grow our own food and preserve all of it as well--trying to have enough to last from season to season (but we are not Mormon). We also grow and produce our own wine and beer (obviousely, not Mormon). Frankly with all the farming going on, I dont have time (nor the inclination) to respond to such contests, surveys, chat rooms and the like. There is much too much politics in our lives anyway and while living in a clearly defined conservative State, one just gets weary of all the 'issues'. I just want to garden....there is a reason they call it horticulture therapy.